homework

New take on an old-school carnival game

A Monster Ate My Homework is an addictive physics-based game, reminiscent of the old milk-bottle knockdown challenges many of us used to play at carnivals. With its nonsensical storyline and bright, whimsical 3D graphics, it's a charming download that, at the very least, should put a smile on your face.

Essentially, there are two types of objects arranged atop a cardboard box: monsters and homework. Your job is to knock all of the monsters off the box without knocking any of your homework off in the process. It may sound simple, but as you progress through the levels, the … Read more

Instructional algebra program

AlgeBasics is an educational tool that helps users learn basic algebra. Although the program has a teaching component, we're not sure that users who are not already familiar with the basics of algebra will get much out of it.

The program's interface isn't the most intuitive thing we've ever seen, but it's fairly easy to understand. AlgeBasics covers four main topics: algebraic expressions, algebraic fractions, indices (positive only), and indices with negatives. For each of these topics users can either view a tutorial or work a set of practice problems. We found the tutorials to … Read more

The 404 396: Where zombies are timeless

A heated discussion over which supernatural species is superior (zombies or vampires) leads us into a truly geeky episode of The 404. To help settle the controversy, we have on today's show CNET's own Scott Stein.

Also on today's show, we solve the mystery behind yesterday's Gawker DDoS attacks that flooded the blog network. It wasn't us, we swear. Next, we analyze a disturbing trend of Obama Joker posters popping up in California and whether or not they're making a statement or are just confusing.

We'll also find out if you can actually sue Amazon for losing your homework and whether or not a new Resident Evil movie is a good idea. All this, plus a special call from Jason Howell and some submissions for Justin Yu's new glasses!

...And to our Japanese astronaut friend, we're not sure deep space is the ideal venue to test out everlasting underwear.

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Comprehensive student aid

StudyMinder is a planner aimed directly at students with variable schedules. With an impressive series of additional options, this program sets itself apart from simple calendaring programs.

At the core of this free 30-day trial is a calendar. Users divide their calendars by semesters or quarters. The calendars even provide countdowns to finals week. By inputting classes and credits, users get a full picture of their scholastic world. The program sends reminders so users do not miss a class.

But, it is the other options that give StudyMinder its legs. Students can enter homework assignments into their calendars and budget … Read more

Essential back-to-school software

You might be enjoying the dog days of summer now, but look out! The school year is just around the corner, and teachers, books, classes, and winter will be here before you know it. Get a jump on the upcoming school year with a collection of downloadable software for communicating with classmates, managing your homework, learning new study skills, or harnessing the reference power of the Internet. You can even find software to let you call your parents free from college. (Seriously, your mom wants a call.)

Digsby

Facebook profiles, instant-messaging networks, various Web mail accounts...who can track them … Read more

Motivation management with GradeFix

Gradefix is a Web-based organizational tool aimed at students who want to organize their schoolwork in a virtual assignment book. Users simply add their assignment info, and Gradefix prioritizes the projects that need their attention. Could this be simpler than a hard-copy day planner? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Gradefix separates schoolwork into four categories: homework, reading, quiz study, and exam study. Sorely lacking is scheduling for lab work and study groups, two activities that most college students likely would add to their schedules. In that regard, Gradefix seems suited more to the high school crowd.

After adding a new … Read more